Combined plumb



W. H. SPANIEN.

comma@ PLUMB, LEVEL, AND Mmmm; mame. APPLICATION FILED JULYU. 1918.

lutcntwlopt. 23, 1919.

ATTONEY J. MKM,

operation, upon al plurality of boards -other surfaces.

WALDEMAR HUGO SPANIER, OF DEVILS LAKE, N ORTH DAKOTA.

COMBINED PLUMB, LEVEL, AN D MITERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application led .'I'uly 8, 1918. Serial No. 243.874.

lTo all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALDEMAR H. SPAN- Inn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Devils Lake, i`n the county of Ramsey and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful Combined Plumb, Level, and Mitering Device, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to combination tools having means for use as a plumb, level or mitering device.

The object is to provide a combination tool of thi-s class which is of compact form so as to be carried in the pocket, and which, when used in connection with an ordinary steel square employed by carpenters, stonemasons and 'the like, may correctly determine whether a board, stone or other article is exactly level in much the same manner as an ordinary spirit level, or to determine the exact vertlcal position of any surface without the disadvantages of an entangling cord and cumbersome body member of an ordinary plumb.'

Another object is to provide such a device with means for use 1n conjunction with an ordinary foot rule or other straight-edge to project a line across a board or other surface at any desired angle for mitering purposes, and to set the device at such an angle when it is desired to repeat such mitering or A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or4 modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.y

In the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several figures Q Figure 1 is a plan View ofthe device in use in -conjunction with an ordinary footrule and shown applied to a board in position for marking the latter at an angle as for mitering the same; j

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device in use in conjunction with an ordinary steel square, as when determining'the eX-` act level or vertical disposition of a surface;

Fig. 3 4is a sectional View taken on the line '3 3 of Fig. 2.

The invention consists primarily in a body member 1, which is rectangular in plan view and preferably square since it is desirable to reduce the size of the device as muchas possible for the purpose, as has been stated, of carrying the device in the pocket when desired. The body member is of a thickness considerably less than the diameter of the same and may be composed of some suitable wood of suiicient hardness to retain its straight' edges and right-angle corners after repeated use, or the said member may be formed of some suitable light metal, such as aluminum, and cast hollow to reduce the weight thereof, if desired.

Each side edge of the body member 1 is provided with a longitudinally disposed groove or rabbet 2 extending centrally thereof and joined at the corners to provide a continuous peripheral channel around the body member of a width sufficient to receive the edge of an ordinary steel square 3, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, and deep enough to be firmly seated upon the inner or shorter edge of one arm of such steel square, with the adjacent inner or shorter edge of the other arm of the square seated in one of the adjacent grooves 2 of the body member 1. When thus seated upon thesteel square, it will be seen that there is slight chance of its dislodgement, and it may be readily held in position by one hand of the operator while the other hand may be used for hammering or leveling the surface upon which the device is being used.

Upon one face of the body member 1, an indicator or pointer 4 is pivotally mounted by a set screw 5 which has threaded engagement, as at 6 with the bod member 1 and at a central point thereof, ut eccentrically with relation to the ointer. The set-screw 5 is preferably provlded with a shoulder 7 for bearing against the pointer or indicator 4 when it is desired to hold the same against movement, as will be explained, and is also provided with the enlarged milled head 8 for facilitating the screwlng action.

The indicator or pointer 4 is lighter at its pointed end 9 than at the other end thereof, and in the present instance this is produced by forming such pointed and hollow, as, in dcated at 10, though any 'other desired means ma be employed for providing superior 'Weig t in the tailV end of. the pointer, which will cause the pointer end 9 to be directed in exact vertical alinement lWhen the set Screw 5 is loosened to free the shoulder 7 thereof Jfrom contact with the pointer 4:.

That face of the body member having the pointer 4 mounted thereon is further provided with a dial ll-orme'd thereon in any desired manner, in surrounding-relation to the pivotal screw 5, and having the proper graduations denoting the degrees of a circle in the circular path of movement of the pointed end of the indicator or polnter 4.

When it is desired to level or plumb a surface, the device is mounted upon av steel square in the manner described and shown in Fig. 2, and the set screw 5 is loosened when, by reason of the Weighted pointer, the degree of irregularity in either a substantially horizontal or vertical surface Will be promptly indicated and the same may be corrected in the rusual manner.

ln using the 'device for mitering `purposes, the set screw 5 is clamped against the pointer to hold the same at the desired angle as indicated upon the dial, and an ordinary :foot-rule 12 or any other straightA edge may be positioned along the longitudinal straight side of the pointer, and agalnst the iiat face `of the body member 1, and the end of such rule or straight edge allowed to overlap the board 13 or other surface to be mitered, as shown in Fig. 1 of the dravvin The proper marking may be made on suc surface and the device used repeatedly for such purpose without the necessity of resetting.

My invention is distinguished from others in this class, in that it consists essentially of three parts or pieces, to wit, the body member 1, which is made of a single solid block, the ointer 4, which has straight and substantial y parallel side edges, and the ivotal screw 5. Moreover, aconstruct-ion 1s provided which may be used for a variety of purposes Without any alteration in the device other than the adjustment of the pivot screw, the latter in one position allowing the pointer to move freely and in lanother holding the pointer rigidly.

The rooves in the straight side edges of the bo y are continuous and -unobstructed throughout and provide means which may be used for sighting` purposes. The Width of the grooves is considerably less than the width of the body member, so that when the device is used separately fromfa square, it may be supported upon any one of the side edges, as the formation of the grooves does not interfere with this.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an extremely simple and inexpensive device has been provided for mitering, plumbing or leveling purposes which ma be readily carried in the pocket, ,and which will not become easily deranged or broken, as is often the case in ordinary spirit levels.

y`What is claimed isad 1. A device of the character described having a form and size adapted to be carried in the pocket of a workman, a rectangular body member having each of its four side edges straight and provided with a longitudinally disposed continuous unobstructed groove of a width to snugly receive the edge of a square, whereby the .body member may .be held on the square at the inside corner or angle thereof without the use of supplemental clamping means, the width of the grooves being considerably less than the thickness of the'body member so as not to affect the capability of the side edges thereof to support the device When removed from. the"square, said body member being provided with level and angle indicating means. i

2. A device of the character described, consisting'essentiall of a rectangular solid block having straig t side'edges and longitudinal continuous unobstructed vgrooves eX- tending alon each of its side edges and connected at t e corners of the same, said grooves being of a Width to snugly receive the edges of a square, whereby the body member may be held on the square atv the inside corner or angle thereof without the use of supplemental clamping means, the width of the groove being considerably less than the thickness of the body member so that the device may be supported upon any' one of its side edges When removed from the square, and said-'grooves being ada ted to be used for sighting purposes, sai body member being provided on one of its faces with a graduated dial, and a pointer movable over the face of the dial.

3. In a device of the character described,

a rectangular body member. having on one of lts faces a graduated dial, a Weighted 4. A device 'of the character described,

comprising a body member formed of a rectangular solid block having each of its side edges straight, a graduated dial denoting the degrees of a circle provided upon one y face of the b ody member, an eccentrically 4weighted pointer mounted concentrically mit with the dial and pivoted to the body member, and means for clamping the polnter at any angle with relation to the dial and against said face of the bodyr member so as to maintain a fixed position, said pointer having longitudinal straight parallel sides for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character described,-

a rectangular block or body member having on one of its faces a graduated dial, said face Ibeing flat, a weighted pointer mounted on said face of the body member and movable over the dial, said pointer having its sides lon 'tudinally straight and substantially para el, and means engaging the pointer to hold the same radially against said face of the body member, whereby a rule or straight edge may be positioned along either of the straight sides of the pointer and against said tace of the body member when the device is employed for mitering purposes.

In testlmony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixed my signa,- ture 1n the presence of two witnesses.

WALDEMAR HUGO SPANIER.

Witnesses:

G. W. McDEvrrr, O. A. MoEN. 

